Universität Wien

124182 VK BEd 08b.3: VK Cultural Studies for Language Teachers (2022S)

"Rebels with a Cause?" Hackers and Activists in Contemporary Popular Culture

5.00 ECTS (2.00 SWS), SPL 12 - Anglistik
Continuous assessment of course work
Moodle

Registration/Deregistration

Note: The time of your registration within the registration period has no effect on the allocation of places (no first come, first served).

Details

max. 25 participants
Language: English

Lecturers

Classes (iCal) - next class is marked with N

In accordance with the current regulations at the University of Vienna, this course is planned as an in-person course on site. Should the Covid-19 situation change for the worse, digital or hybrid options will be announced in due time.

  • Friday 04.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 18.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 25.03. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 01.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 08.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 29.04. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 06.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 13.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 20.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 27.05. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 03.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 10.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 17.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17
  • Friday 24.06. 14:15 - 15:45 Raum 5 Anglistik UniCampus Hof 8 3E-O1-17

Information

Aims, contents and method of the course

This course will focus on the representation of political activists and activist collectives, whistleblowers, "hacktivists", and hackers in contemporary popular culture, across a variety of media. Focussing on representative examples (to which students are encouraged to contribute!) that range from social media posts by hacker collective Anonymous and news reports about the #BlackLivesMatter and #FridaysForFuture movements to biopics of whistleblowers (The Fifth Estate, a 2013 film about Julian Assange and WikiLeaks) and fictional representations of hackers and "hacktivists" (e. g. Mr. Robot; Halt and Catch Fire), we will discuss and revise key concepts and methods of cultural and media studies, such as popular culture, the politics of the popular, participatory culture, "produsage", critical media analysis etc.
The individual sessions of this course will combine classroom discussions, group work, and activities developed by students with a view towards teaching these important topics and skills in the classroom.

Assessment and permitted materials

Students must fulfill and pass each of the 3 course requirements (portfolio, regular attendance and participation, acting as expert) and score at least 60 points altogether in order to pass this course.

Grading scale:
1: 100-90 points
2: 89-80 points
3: 79-70 points
4: 69-60 points
5: 59-0 points

The course requirements will be discussed in detail during the first session.

Minimum requirements and assessment criteria

• Active participation in class discussions: 20 points
• Presentation (teaching activity): 20 points
• Portfolio (3 tasks relating to the teaching activity and/or term/B-Ed paper): 15 points
• Term paper/B-Ed paper: 45 points

Examination topics

This is an interactive course with continuous assessment ("prüfungsimmanente Lehrveranstaltung"). In addition to handing in the portfolio and term/B-Ed paper, participants are expected to read all set texts and actively participate in class throughout the semester as well as hand in tasks and assignments on time.

There will be no written exam.

Reading list

Primary material will be discussed and decided on together with students.
Theoretical texts will include individual articles as well excerpts from key publications, e.g. John Storey, Cultural Theory and Popular Culture: An Introduction; Jenkins, Ito, boyd: Participatory Culture in a Networked Era; Paolo Gerbaudo: Tweets and the Streets: Social Media and Contemporary Activism; Christian Fuchs, Social Media: A Critical Introduction

A complete list of materials (and instructions on how to access them) will be provided in the first session. The eLearning platform Moodle will be used in this course.

Association in the course directory

Studium: BEd 046/407
Code/Modul: BEd 08b.3
Lehrinhalt: 12-4686

Last modified: Fr 04.03.2022 05:08